Toyota’s Entune functions much like its competitors in that it uses the drivers’ mobile phone data plan for connectivity. Users can simply download the Toyota Entune app to their mobile phone and pair it with the car via Bluetooth -- so long as the vehicle is equipped with Entune, which debuts on select models later this year. Using the Entune app and the users’ data plan, Entune provides a way to interact with the phone -- reading text messages, playing music, and more -- without touching the phone, giving Ford’s Sync another competitor.“Consumers have grown accustomed to having the world at their fingertips through their mobile phones,” said Jon Bucci, vice president of Toyota’s advanced technology department, in a prepared statement. “And unlike other industry solutions, Entune allows the driver to interact with informative and entertaining mobile content without fumbling with their phone. We offer features that our customers demand and integrate them seamlessly in the vehicle.”

Some of those features include mobile apps such as OpenTable, allowing drivers to make a reservation at a restaurant on-the-go; iheartradio, Pandora, and USB auxiliary radio connections, giving users nearly endless music options; along with the ability to buy movie tickets from the car and receive real-time, customizable weather, stock, traffic, fuel prices, and sports updates. Of course Entune also interacts with the car’s navigation system, with access to Bing Maps as well as the Bing search engine.To interact with Entune, users can use in-car controls or a voice recognition system that Toyota calls class leading. Ford’s updated Sync system recognizes some 10,000 voice commands, so we’re interested to see just how easy-to-use Toyota’s system is in comparison.

Toyota’s Entune Multimedia System debuts on unnamed, select models later this year and will be shown at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas this week. We’re looking forward to getting our hands on an Entune-equipped model and testing it for ourselves. For now, take a look at the video below to see how Entune functions.Source: Toyota

I do think that the comparison of Ford to Toyota is acceptable. Ford never did own up to its defects with the Ford Pinto or the Ford Explorer. At least Toyota accepted responsibility and has instituted recalls. Having owned both, including the disastrous Ford Escort, Ford cost me thousands of dollars in repair costs when I was a student. Corporate responsibility and ethics are important to me
I say Toyota has emerged better from their recent quality issues. They accepted responsibility. Will Ford ever accept responsibility for their debacles of the past ?
I think their Entune technology is great and well thought out. The Ford Sync system still could be better. The challenge from Toyota will hopefully force them to get better. Competition always favors the America public.

Ok, I'm no Toyota fan, most people know it, but to say that they aren't competining with Ford directly is ignorant. And to answer your question,yes youcan get leather on most Toyotas, Camry, Avalon, Tundra, Sienna, Rav-4, 4Runner, Highlander. The only ones I don't think come with leather as an option are the Yaris and Corolla and maybe the Tacoma and FJCruiser.,

OK except for a couple of things.., Toyota's aren't exactly the car i would expect to even try to do this.. maybe lexus, but toyota? NO. Toyota's are cheap economic cars, not luxurious ones. So to even say that it competes with fords is kinda messed up. the two companies are in different classes. can you even get leather in a Toyota?

Um, how does this compete with sync? Sync is all about integrating all of the media interfaces like bluetooth, phone, Ipod, voice navigation etc into one system WITHOUT having to download an app to the phone or any other additions. This thing cannot read an Ipod the way sync does. Nice try but it's not comparable.